An Interesting Question
Gindy asked the following question in another subject and I think it's too important a topic to leave in the bowels of the Haloscan debacle:
Have you heard Albright or anyone else (except for Ross) say this before so plainly? I am curious.
"I hope ... the new (Palestinian) leadership will understand what is being offered. Arafat turned down the best deal that any Palestinian will ever see," she told businessmen Wednesday at a lunch organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt. Read article here.
My answer in the comments section.
posted by Esther @ 1:02 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Actually, a surprising person has echoed a similar sentiment:
"In an interview with reporter Elsa Walsh, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Bandar said he told Arafat that if he didn’t make the deal, it would be a 'crime against the Palestinians.' ” (http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/religion/features/n_9622/index3.html)
Another telling paragraph from that article is the following -- and I wonder how much Albright had to do with it:
"Initially, Arafat’s recalcitrance looked like not only a crime against the Palestinian people but a huge public-relations blunder as well. In the U.S., in Europe, and even behind closed doors in the Muslim world, people were quickly turning against him. Slowly, however, a revisionist movement began. A second story line, PUSHED BY PEOPLE like Clinton aide Robert Malley, emerged. This narrative, prominently promoted in a controversial front-page New York Times article, said the offer wasn’t all it appeared to be. And in any event, there were many reasons Arafat simply could not make the deal: It robbed him of his dignity as a Muslim man because peace was offered not won; it required signing an end-of-conflict clause, which meant the Palestinians would have to give up their dream of all the land."
I forgot to add, my boyfriend thinks Albright is saying this now to try to clean up her reputation. He said she wasn't very good on Israel.
I agree with American On Line. I've read that the "3%" missing from the "97%" Arafat was offered was the reason he refused it. I don't think so. Arafat was a terrorist at heart who hated Israel and all Jews. He was simply not capable of accepting a peace deal, any peace deal. Time will tell if his successors will be any different.
Post a Comment
<< Home